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Biggest takeaways from Week 7: Thumbs up for the Colts, Chiefs ... thumbs down for the Jets, Dolphins

NFL NationOct 19, 2025, 07:55 PM ET
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Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off Thursday with a battle between two 40-something quarterbacks in the Steelers' Aaron Rodgers and the Bengals' Joe Flacco. The latter won the night after leading a game-winning drive that was capped by a 36-yard field goal from Evan McPherson with seven seconds left in regulation.

Sunday's action began in London for the second straight week, with the Rams defeating the Jaguars. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford set an international series record with five touchdowns. Back in the United States, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye led his team to its fourth straight win, defeating the Titans. And the Chiefs shut out the Raiders in wide receiver Rashee Rice's season debut after a six-game suspension.

In the late window, the Colts easily handled their matchup with the Chargers. Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor set a Colts franchise record with three rushing touchdowns for the third time this season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys offense was firing on all cylinders in a blowout win over the depleted Commanders.

Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let's get to it.

Dallas 44, Washington 22

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Cowboys

Can the Cowboys' offense carry them to a playoff spot? While the defense was improved, the Cowboys' offense is rolling. Quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown at least three touchdown passes in four straight games. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had 110 yards and a 74-yard touchdown in his return, while George Pickens averaged more than 20 yards per catch. Tight end Jake Ferguson had a touchdown catch in his fourth straight game. Running back Javonte Williams had his second 100-yard rushing game and sixth rushing touchdown of the season. The Cowboys are averaging more than 30 points per game, and of their final 10 opponents, six rank in the top half defensively in points allowed.

Most surprising performance: Let's get something out of the way: The Commanders didn't have their top three receivers. But when you come in with the NFL's worst defense in yards, so what? Plus, the Cowboys did not have their most decorated cornerback in Trevon Diggs (concussion). There were promised changes on defense during the week, one of which was more man coverage. Before the Cowboys opened up a big lead in the third quarter, they played man coverage 54% of the time. According to ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats, the Cowboys used zone coverage 82% of the time in the first six weeks. There's a lot of work to be done, but the increased use of man coverage seemed to help. -- Todd Archer

Next game: at Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

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Dak Prescott links up with Jake Ferguson for Cowboys TD

Dak Prescott throws a dart to Jake Ferguson for a Cowboys touchdown vs. the Commanders.

Commanders

Where does Washington go from here? The Commanders have upcoming games at Kansas City before going home for games against Seattle and Detroit. In other words: uh-oh! A season full of anticipation could turn quite bad. The Commanders' defense has shown no reason to think it can spark a turn-around. It allowed 409 total yards, and though it did record a safety, it has caused only three turnovers this season. Plus, the offense is missing too many key parts to play with any consistency; namely their top three receivers and then quarterback Jayden Daniels exited with a hamstring injury in the third quarter.

Biggest hole in the game plan: A lot of teams can't hang with Dallas' receivers, but Washington traded for cornerback Marshon Lattimore last year in part to compete more with talent like this. But Lattimore was flagged for two pass interference penalties for a combined 55 yards, and he gave up a 44-yard pass to George Pickens on a second-and-17 late in the first half. -- John Keim

Next game: at Chiefs (Monday, 0.34375 p.m. ET)

Indianapolis 38, L.A. Chargers 24

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Colts

How far can the Colts' league-leading offense take them? The Colts, who lead the NFL in scoring with 32.1 points per game, showed no sign of relenting and might have the NFL's most dangerous offense. They scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions, then responded to the Chargers' comeback efforts with 15 more points in the third quarter. The Colts are not a perfect team given the rash of injuries in their secondary and a sometimes inconsistent pass rush. But the performance of the offense, which had a season-high 7.3 yards per play Sunday, has been so dominant that the Colts just might be able to overcome those flaws.

Most surprising performance: Wide receiver Alec Pierce. He had a great performance in the absence of Josh Downs (concussion), taking the lead receiving role despite the presence of Michael Pittman Jr. and tight end Tyler Warren. Pierce was clutch on contested throws, including a third-down 13-yard reception with 2:25 left that converted a first down and iced the game. -- Stephen Holder

Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

Chargers

How have the Chargers regressed this much? The Chargers had jumped out to a 3-0 start, their best since 2002. They had beaten three divisional opponents and appeared destined to be a contender. But the team of those first three weeks has vanished. Los Angeles has now lost three of its past four games and looks out of sync. The Chargers can't seem to run the ball consistently, their once flawless passing offense has stalled and their stout defense is now putrid. Injuries have played a part in the issues, but they haven't looked like themselves independently of those.

Trend to watch: Quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown an interception in four of the past five games, with a total of six interceptions over that span. He threw two interceptions Sunday, and many passes were nearly intercepted due to poor ball placement. At his best, Herbert is one of the league's best quarterbacks --- but his inconsistencies have hurt the Chargers. -- Kris Rhim

Next game: vs. Vikings (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Carolina 13, N.Y. Jets 6

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Panthers

What's the impact of Bryce Young's ankle injury? Young's command of the offense has been key to three straight wins, something Carolina hasn't done since the start of the 2021 season. His mobility in Dave Canales' scheme has been a big part of the team's recent success, with a lot of play-action and rollouts. With games against the Bills and Packers next, mobility could be key because of the pressure they bring. Andy Dalton's veteran experience could trump that, but the offense will change some, as we saw in the final quarter Sunday.

Trend to watch: The first attempt at rotating running backs Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle for every series in Hubbard's return was a mild success. But Dowdle, who had 473 scrimmage yards the past two weeks, still appeared to be the more dominant back. He had 79 rushing yards on 17 carries to Hubbard's 31 yards on 14 carries. Stay tuned.

Best quote from the locker room: The Panthers (4-3) haven't had a day off for what NFL teams often call "Victory Monday'' during their three-game winning streak that has them above .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2019. They don't plan on taking one. "We're in the process right now,'' Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown said. "And the process don't come with 'Victory Monday.' We're going to be ready to go to work tomorrow and turn the page [on this win].'' -- David Newton

Next game: vs. Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Rashee Rice gets his 2nd TD catch of the game

Rashee Rice hauls in another touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to increase Kansas City’s lead.

Jets

Is it time for the Jets to give up on quarterback Justin Fields? The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million deal, including a $30 million guarantee -- and they needed only 6½ games to realize he's not the answer. An ineffective Fields (6-for-12, 46 yards) was benched at halftime in favor of longtime backup Tyrod Taylor, leaving the Jets in a dark place with no starting-caliber quarterback and no young heir apparent on the roster. Coach Aaron Glenn had been steadfast in support of Fields, but he ran out of patience after six straight quarters without a touchdown. Taylor provided some energy but threw two interceptions. Could Glenn go back to Fields next week? Even if he does, the outcome seems inevitable. With a high draft pick, the Jets will be in the 2026 quarterback market, starting over yet again.

Stat to know: The Jets have gone back-to-back games without a touchdown for the first time since Weeks 9-10 of the 2023 season. That year, they were scrambling in the aftermath of Aaron Rodgers' Achilles injury in Week 1. This time, they just appear lost on offense. Last week against Denver provided easy excuses for the Jets, but the Panthers entered the game with the 21st-ranked scoring defense. Even without wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee), New York should have been able to find the end zone. -- Rich Cimini

Next game: at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Philadelphia 28, Minnesota 22

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Eagles

Is the Eagles' offense back? The 30th-ranked passing offense coming into the game found its stride against Minnesota. Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw three touchdown passes, wide receiver DeVonta Smith had a career-high 183 yards and a touchdown and A.J. Brown had a pair of touchdown catches. Hurts' 304 yards to receivers was the second most of his career. The Eagles still haven't gotten running back Saquon Barkley going, but they were able to generate some answers in the pass game during their mini-bye, which is encouraging.

Stat to know: Hurts' 215 pass yards on throws of at least 20 yards downfield are his career high. A good chunk came on his 79-yard touchdown throw to Smith midway through the third quarter. It marked the longest reception of Smith's career, surpassing a 63-yard catch which also came against Minnesota (2023, Week 2). He has five receptions of 50-plus yards in his career, and three have come against Minnesota. -- Tim McManus

Next game: vs. Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Jaycee Horn picks off Tyrod Taylor for a 2nd time

Jaycee Horn gets in front of a Jets receiver and comes down with the interception for the Panthers.

Vikings

What happens now at quarterback? Carson Wentz finished with 313 passing yards but threw two first-half interceptions, including one the Eagles returned for a touchdown, and he also committed a costly intentional grounding penalty in the red zone. J.J. McCarthy (ankle) progressed enough last week to be the emergency No. 3 quarterback, and the Vikings would like to get him on the field when he is ready. But they really have only one practice this week as they prepare for a Thursday night game -- not an ideal spot to give McCarthy his first game reps since Week 2. So the likeliest scenario is that Wentz will get one more start, and then Minnesota will reassess the position the following week.

Most surprising performance: The Vikings were determined not to get beat by the Eagles' rushing game, which netted only 55 yards on 21 carries. But their pass defense, which entered the game holding opponents to the NFL's second-lowest QBR (46.8), couldn't keep up. Brown and Smith combined for 310 receiving yards and three touchdowns for the Eagles, and Hurts finished with a perfect passer rating of 158.3. -- Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Chargers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Chicago 26, New Orleans 14

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Bears

How far can the Bears' run game and aggressive defense take them? Things got a little too close for comfort in the third quarter when the Bears' 20-point lead was whittled down to one score, but Chicago's dominant rushing performance (222 yards) and defense (which boasts a league-leading 16 takeaways) cemented its fourth straight win. The Bears outlasted an up-and-down day from quarterback Caleb Williams by leaning on running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai on the ground, and also benefited from extra possessions gifted off three interceptions, a forced fumble/recovery and outstanding third-down defense. With a favorable stretch coming up (Ravens, Bengals, Giants), the Bears need to capitalize off the early momentum they've built and learn how to close out teams to extend their win streak.

Trend to watch: What looked like a one-off against Washington in Week 6 uncovered a legitimate concern with the Bears quarterback/center exchange Sunday. Williams and Drew Dalman weren't on the same page, and it proved costly in two trips deep into the red zone. Chicago settled for a field goal in the first quarter when Dalman didn't let go of the ball after snapping it. In the third quarter, Dalman double-clutched a snap on fourth-and-goal. For the first time ever, a false start was a good thing for the Bears' offense: If the play weren't blown dead, Chicago probably would've failed to score on the busted play. The Bears ended up kicking a field goal. -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Saints

Do the Saints stick with Spencer Rattler or get a look at Tyler Shough? Though Rattler has had his positive moments this season, he struggled against former coach Dennis Allen and the Bears defense. He was sacked four times, threw three interceptions and lost a fumble on the first drive. Rattler finished 20-of-32 for 233 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints have made a point to get several rookies playing time, with cornerback Quincy Riley, safety Jonas Sanker and linebacker Danny Stutsman all playing this season. With the losses piling up, there might come a point where the team takes a look at Shough.

Trend to watch: Kicker Blake Grupe's inconsistency. Grupe came into the game leading the NFL with 19 field goal attempts and ranked second in field goals made (14). But he has been inconsistent all season. A failed attempt against the Bears put his misses at six, and he has now missed at least one field goal in five games. With the Saints' overall offensive struggles, they can't afford to have kicking issues as well. -- Katherine Terrell

Next game: vs. Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Cleveland 31, Miami 6

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Browns

Is this win fool's gold or something to build on? In ending a three-game losing streak and stopping a trend of 11 straight games without exceeding 17 points, the Browns were able to beat one of the few teams that may be struggling more than they are. But Cleveland was able to run effectively against one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL and limit mistakes with zero turnovers, which is its formula for success. Next Sunday's game should provide more clarity.

Stat to know: Running back Quinshon Judkins is the first Browns player with two rushing touchdowns in the first half of a game since Nick Chubb in Week 5 of 2022 against the Chargers. Judkins is the first Browns rookie with three scrimmage touchdowns in a game since Travis Prentice rushed for the same number on Oct. 8, 2000 at the Cardinals.

Best quote from the locker room: "One win is one thing, but we've got to turn this into a habit," defensive end Myles Garrett said on the Browns, who haven't won consecutive games since Week 17 of the 2023 season. -- Daniel Oyefusi

Next game: at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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DeVonta Smith catches longest pass of his career for 79-yard TD

DeVonta Smith gets open downfield and Jalen Hurts finds him for a 79-yard touchdown.

Dolphins

Can we expect more from this Dolphins team? At this point, no. Former coach Bill Parcells once said, "You are what your record says you are," and the Dolphins looked every bit like a 1-6 team during a demoralizing loss to the Browns. Teams like Cleveland, Carolina and New England are no longer the "get right" opponents they once were for Miami. Instead, the Dolphins have joined the likes of the Titans and Jets as the NFL's rollover opponents. With games against the Falcons, Ravens and Bills coming before a Week 10 matchup with the Commanders in Madrid, team owner Stephen Ross has a decision to make as to how much longer this can continue under coach Mike McDaniel -- and decide who is to blame for a lost season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: By the time the Browns opened a 31-6 lead over the Dolphins, running back De'Von Achane had 98 total yards of offense on 16 touches. The other eight Dolphins offensive players to touch the ball had 88 yards on 15 touches. Miami's offense was frustratingly reliant on Achane, to the point where its supporting cast had fewer yards than the Dolphins' penalty output (10 for 98 yards). If Sunday was not rock bottom for Miami, fans should be scared to see what rock bottom actually looks like.

Best quote from the locker room: "There's a lot of guys that will have an important work week," McDaniel said. "I mean, if you are negatively affecting the football team routinely, I don't have a choice but to assess a different player and I have to coach a lot better as well. So we're going to find out who and what we're made of." -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next game: at Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Kansas City 31, Las Vegas 0

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Chiefs

Do the Chiefs have the league's best offense? There will be greater challenges ahead for Kansas City, for sure. Sunday's domination of the Raiders, though, should be a full warning sign. With No. 1 receiver Rashee Rice back on the field, quarterback Patrick Mahomes had plenty of answers regardless of what the Raiders tried. He completed a pass to nine different teammates before the end of the third quarter. Entering Sunday, the Chiefs averaged 31.6 points in their past three games. Kansas City needed just 43 minutes -- and five possessions -- to score 31 points on the Raiders.

Stat to know: One element of the Chiefs' offense that the defense has to love is Mahomes' ability to convert on third and fourth downs, leading to methodical, elongated drives. Such occurred in the first half, as the Chiefs had two consecutive possessions in which they scored a touchdown on the 17th and 16th plays, respectively. The offense was so efficient -- and the defense was so effective in limited moments -- that the Raiders ran just 14 plays on offense in the first quarter.

Best quote from the locker room: When the second quarter began, the Chiefs faced a fourth-and-1 near midfield. Before the ball was snapped, Mahomes showed off his acting skills to distract the Raiders, shouting, "F---, it never f------ works, man!" The Chiefs converted a couple of seconds later. "I think it comes from all my State Farm commercials," Mahomes said, laughing. "I'm joking. [Offensive coordinator Matt] Nagy came up with the idea. We had talked about doing the hard count and trying to draw the [defense] offsides. I can't remember who I watched do it a couple of years ago and they had said that. I said, 'I'm going to use that as part of my acting,' just to get the defense to relax a little bit. "But we've got to go get [the first down]. I thought the offensive line did a great job of driving off the ball and [running back Kareem Hunt], in those situations, is money." -- Nate Taylor

Next game: vs. Commanders (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Raiders

Why did the Raiders abandon the run so early? A laundry list of things went wrong for the Raiders. Among those was their usage of rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. The No. 6 pick had just six carries for 21 yards. Yes, Kansas City controlled the clock for the majority of the game. But Jeanty ran the ball once in the opening quarter and just four times for the entire first half. With wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers out, Jeanty was the team's best offensive player, and the Raiders struggled to get him involved.

Stat to know: The Raiders' pass rush was nonexistent. It pressured Mahomes four times on 40 dropbacks. Las Vegas had six sacks and 16 pressures last week against the Titans. Maxx Crosby also had to leave the game in the second quarter due to knee and back injuries. -- Ryan McFadden

Next game: vs. Jaguars (Nov. 2, 4:05 p.m. ET)

New England 31, Tennessee 13

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Patriots

Drake Maye has been on fire, but does he need to protect himself better? Maye has been playing lights out, but when he took off on a run in the third quarter and didn't slide, he was tackled and banged his head on the turf. He missed three plays while being evaluated in the blue medical tent, but it was a reminder of something coaches have stressed to him: His greatest value to the team is his health, and while his running ability is a great asset, it needs to be used judiciously. As for Maye's performance, consider that his 39-yard TD pass to Kayshon Boutte traveled 52.6 yards in the air, which was his second of the season over 50 yards by air distance (per NFL Next Gen Stats).

Most surprising performance: The Patriots' running game, led by Rhamondre Stevenson and an offensive line that had talked about finishing its blocks longer this week, had its best day of the season with 175 rushing yards (4.9 yards per carry). New England entered the day ranked 27th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (91.5) and tied for 30th in average yards per carry (3.5).

Best quote from the locker room: "He's playing at a high level ... When you see a guy in practice put a lot of time in, approach this thing the right way, it's no surprise to us. Hopefully he'll go 22-for-22," wide receiver Stefon Diggs said about Maye setting the Patriots single-game record for completion percentage (21 for 23, 91.3%). -- Mike Reiss

Next game: vs. Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

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Quinshon Judkins runs in his 2nd TD of the game

Quinshon Judkins almost loses a direct snap, but he spins his way through the defense for his second touchdown of the game.

Titans

Is it time to worry about Cam Ward? It's hard to imagine Ward's season getting off to a worse start. He fumbled for the second consecutive game, totaling five for the season, which is most in the NFL. The rookie entered Week 7 with the lowest completion percentage (55%) among qualified quarterbacks. In the first half, he went 11-of-16 (69%) for 148 yards -- but the second half was a disaster. Ward and the offense struggled mightily as the game got out of hand. He completed 14 of his 25 passes for 109 yards and an interception. Ward was the most-sacked quarterback (25) entering this week, and he was sacked five times on Sunday.

Most surprising performance: Rookie receiver Chimere Dike had already established himself as a big-time player in the return game, as shown by his league-leading 732 return yards entering this week. But on offense, Dike had only nine receptions for 26 yards in six games. Dike eclipsed that number in the first half with four receptions for 70 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown.

Best quote from the locker room: "It might not be our time right now," inside linebacker Cedric Gray said after another Titans loss, "but we just gotta find ways to keep building and stacking. Our time will come. It feels a lot better when you stay through the s--- and work through the s--- together and you finally come out on top at the end." -- Turron Davenport

Next game: at Colts (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)

L.A. Rams 35, Jacksonville 7

Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap

Rams

Will Davante Adams' red zone success continue with the return of Puka Nacua? The red zone is an area the Rams offense has struggled with this season, especially the connection between quarterback Matthew Stafford and Adams. But in the lead up to the game, Adams said building that chemistry with a new quarterback can take time and that it comes with the more reps the pair get. On Sunday against the Jaguars, the Rams were 4-for-4 in the red zone with three touchdowns to Adams. While the Rams hope to get Nacua back after their Week 8 bye, Stafford and Adams no doubt benefited from continued reps as the season continues.

Key stat to know: With three touchdowns on Sunday, Adams has nine receiving touchdowns in five career games against Jacksonville. According to ESPN Research, the 1.8 receiving touchdowns per game is the most by any player against a single opponent with a minimum of five games played. -- Sarah Barshop

Next game: vs. Saints (Nov. 2, 4:05 p.m. ET)

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Drake Maye drops in an absolute dime to Kayshon Boutte for a Pats TD

Drake Maye airs one out to Kayshon Boutte for a 39-yard Patriots touchdown vs. the Titans.

Jaguars

Do the Jaguars have a Brian Thomas Jr. problem? Thomas isn't playing anywhere close to the level of a No.1 receiver, which the Jaguars believed he was before the season. His biggest issue has been his hands. He dropped two passes against the Rams (one on a third down), which comes one week after he had a third-down drop against Seattle. He had three drops against Cincinnati in Week 2, including one on fourth down inside the Bengals' 10-yard line. There also have been some throws where it seems he was trying to avoid contact. He is not the only issue the Jaguars have on offense but it's hard to move the ball consistently when the supposed best playmaker isn't producing.

Now add an injury. He left the game late in the fourth quarter and the medical staff was looking at his right hand/wrist. He did not reenter the game.

Trend to watch: Cam Little has now missed three of his past four kicks: a 50-yard field goal attempt against the Rams and a PAT and 50-yard field goal attempt in Week 6 against Seattle. He did make a fourth-quarter PAT, though. Little has already missed three field goals this season. He missed two as a rookie in 2024. The Jaguars may consider bringing in some kickers for a tryout over the bye week to at least put some pressure on Little. -- Mike DiRocco

Next game: at Raiders (Nov. 2, 4:05 p.m. ET)

Cincinnati 33, Pittsburgh 31

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Bengals

Is Cincinnati's defense consistent enough for the Bengals to be a contender? Not at the moment. Whether it's at linebacker or at cornerback, Cincinnati hasn't found the right mix of starters through seven games. The Bengals nearly blew a 10-point lead because of the defensive struggles in the second half. After Thursday, Cincinnati was 29th in points allowed per drive, 31st in red zone efficiency and 29th in yards allowed per play. Simply, it isn't good enough if the Bengals want to be in playoff contention.

What to make of the QB performance: In the battle of seasoned veterans, Bengals QB Joe Flacco was the victor. Both he and Aaron Rodgers made big plays. But most notably, Flacco didn't throw any interceptions while Rodgers had two. Flacco posted a 75.2 Total QBR, his fifth-highest mark since 2019, per ESPN Research. -- Ben Baby

Next game: vs. Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Steelers

Can the Steelers make effective, meaningful in-season adjustments to the defensive scheme? After hauling in 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown, Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase said the Steelers' defense did "exactly what we was expecting and hoping they'd do." In the past, Pittsburgh's defense has dominated despite its predictable scheme because it's stacked with all-world talent. That strategy becomes less effective, though, as that talent ages and faces offenses that are intimately familiar with the defensive plan. The Steelers acquired defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay in order to shut down teams with elite receiving tandems. Neither player was effective, either playing out of position or being a step too slow. And up front, the Steelers weren't gap sound and had communication issues that turned into big gains for running back Chase Brown. With the Packers and Colts coming up, the Steelers need to make impactful adjustments or acquire better talent to run the scheme.

What to make of the QB performance: Rodgers was outdueled by Flacco, in part because of Rodgers' poor decision to force the ball deep to DK Metcalf, who was double-covered, in the first half. Before that interception, Rodgers' first of two in the first half, the quarterback was playing like a vintage version of himself. He held on to the ball for 8.6 seconds before finding tight end Jonnu Smith for a scramble drill touchdown to cap the first drive of the game. It marked Rodgers' longest time he had to throw a touchdown pass since at least 2016, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Rodgers finished with three TDs on passes outside the pocket, tied for the most in his career. -- Brooke Pryor